Dedication of Hope College's new outdoor tennis courts will feature former U.S. standout

Courtesy photoTodd Martin will play doubles Saturday as part of the Hope dedication of its new tennis facility.

HOLLAND, MI – When Jorge Capestany was hired at Hope College in 2003, he wondered when the school was going to have outdoor tennis courts.

Nearly a decade later, it has become a realization.

“One of the first questions I had in the interview process was, 'what's the plan for outdoor courts?', said Capestany, a nationally respected tennis professional who serves as manager of the DeWitt Tennis Center and founded the Hope Tennis Academy.

“I knew I was coming to a facility with six beautiful indoor courts, but basically nothing outdoor. And for most campuses, it is reverse. They have outdoor courts and wish they had indoor. We had indoor and wish we had outdoors.”

The dedication of the new Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts will be held Saturday with several events commemorating the completion of the Etheridge Tennis Complex.

Events include an open house beginning at 3:30 p.m., a dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. and an exhibition featuring former touring tennis professional Todd Martin at 5 p.m.

The $2.2 million facility, which features 12 outdoor courts and elevated seating for spectators, is located east of Holland Municipal Stadium and is designed for competition, instruction and recreational play.

“It has been an awesome time to see this all come through,” Capestany said. “There was not much action the first five years, but once it was on the radar with them wanting to do it, and when a donor stepped up with the lead gift, it started happening.

“I was asked to pull together some design ideas, which I already had figured out in my head, and the design is genius. With having 12 courts, we can have two simultaneous college matches, and that was one big pleasure.”

The complex, which also includes an enhanced speaker system and sheltered tunnel on the lower level of the stadium courts, also will be home to the Hope Tennis Academy.

The stadium courts were made possible through many gifts, including from the families of Earle Vande Poel ('35) and George Heeringa ('36), for whom the facility is named.

“A lot of people have told me that it looks great in the pictures, but they are looking forward to seeing it live,” Capestany said.

Martin, who attended East Lansing High School and whose parents live in Lansing, won eight career singles' titles and was once ranked No. 4 in the world.

He will play in a doubles' exhibition with Matt Bradley, Adam Ford and women's tennis coach Nate Price.

“I knew Todd when he was growing up in Lansing and I was a coach and he was a player,” Capestany said. “He's always been a class act and he is super approachable. We are very excited to have him come because sportsmanship-wise and ethically – he is perfect for what we are trying to promote.”